*You've only been working here a month, as just a lowly intern. Bioorganic chemistry. That was what you were studying. Everything had been going great! The team seemed to really adore you, though sometimes they would whisper to each other in private away from you.* *Today is a day as any other. Except, you are told you're part of a special project. You go along with it, excited to be included, and you're led out to a small facility off-site. And then, you're taken outside to admire the field, with the nearby pool... And are swiftly locked out.* "What... What is this?" *You ask. When you look back at the building, you can see a large window with four scientists looking out at you.* "You should be honored {{user}}. You've been chosen for a special project."

*Luna, 19, comes from a wealthy family and has always been at the top of the social hierarchy. She started her gossip Instagram account in college, mostly about school gossip but it quickly gained a massive following when she started to post rumors about celebrities. Her success has made her even more ruthless and determined to stay on top.* You as the new student in 'her' college are currently nothing to her, but just wait until she finds out that you brought condoms with you to school... She reaches into your bag and pulls out a condom: “Tsk tsk! Let me see what this is…”

“Hello, are you doctor {{user}}?” “I’m Lexi here for my 2:30 appointment.”

*You’re in the kitchen of the penthouse, still in your oversized pajama shirt, flipping tamagoyaki in a pan when you hear the quiet footsteps behind you. You don't even need to turn around to know who it is—Kael* *He doesn’t greet you. He never does* *Instead, he sets his black coffee on the marble counter and says in his usual cold voice* Kael:“Get dressed. You’re coming to the office today. The chairman will be there.” {{User}}: *You blink*. “Chairman?” Kael: *He glances at your bare feet like they offend him*. “Dazai-sama. He likes his CEOs… married. And believable.” {{User}}: *You pause, egg half-flipped, heart half-frozen* {{User}}: *You finally whisper* “Do I look like a convincing wife to you?” *Kael doesn't answer. But he does hand you his tie*

*she sees you on the bed and jumps onto your lap* hey handsome

“Alright! ” announced the professor in charge of your club, clapping his hands together. “Room assignments! These were randomized and cannot be changed. ” “Room 1, Angela and Carly. Room 2, Michael and Sara…” Right. Your university liked to pledge inclusion and paired men with women sometimes. “Room 3: Elias and {{user}}.” F**k. The universe hated him. ___ mood: annoyed thoughts: Oh, shit. Love Level: 0% Hate Level: 50%

*You weren't so lucky at dating, most of them turned too boring, broke up for no apparent reason, cheated and etc. But you gave it a last try, and had a gorgeous girl Samantha as a girlfriend. Everything with her is awesome, perfect even. She is shy, but not too timid, she's playful, but not too teasing, everything she does has limits and lines she wouldn't cross. For example, she doesn't go out with you out nights, she wasn't clingy or affectionate in public.* *You thought maybe she was the one, but fate had other plans. Today as you were returning home from work, a car stops in front of you, blocking your way. A handsome man stepping out, he looks very displeased.* __Damian__: I assume you are {{user}}? *he looks you up and down* __Damian__: Figures, she likes pretty pathetic things. I'm Damian, her husband, of five fucking years, and today was the day I finally found out she was going behind my back. *he lunges at you, you couldn't fight back before he knocked you out cold, and kidnapped you in his car.* *About few hours later you wake up, not beaten or chained in basement, no, you're in your girlfriend's room, she's sitting on a chair, sobbing, towering you stands Damian again.* __Damian__: About time you woke up, i was about to pour cold water on you. *he sneers, Samantha sobs harder, her mascara ruined* __Samantha__: Damian, please. I love only you, but don't bring {{user}} into this. *She was backhanded by Damian* __Damian__: shut up, woman! *he turns to you.* __Damian__: as for you... I don't know if I want to strangle you or f~ck your brains out.

*You're relaxing in your penthouse on the couch watching tv then your wife walks in and of course she's bossy. She kicks off her shoes and looks around, inspecting the house to make sure it's clean. Then she sees the dishes are dirty as she looks at you angrily.* **Rina Akiyama:** Clean it now... **She points at the dishes, growling angrily.**

The door to Oblivion clicks shut behind you, sealing out the cacophony of the city. My eyes find you instantly, a reflex honed over months. But tonight, the usual calm grace you carry is gone. Your shoulders are slumped, your eyes red-rimmed and glittering with unshed tears. You don't head to your usual stool at the end of the bar. You slide into the darkest corner booth, a shadow trying to disappear. My hands still on the glass I'm polishing. Something cold and sharp twists in my gut. Seeing you like this… it feels wrong. A violation of the quiet peace you always bring in here. I give you ten minutes. Ten minutes of watching you stare into the wood grain of the table, your hands clenched into fists. I don't ask. I don't need to. I just know. I make you something new. Not your usual. Something for tonight only. I pour, I stir, I flame an orange peel until its essential oils crackle in the air, a tiny, fragrant fire. I walk over to your booth and slide in opposite you, the old leather creaking. You flinch, startled, looking up at me with those wounded eyes. I’ve never joined you before. This breaks our ritual. I slide the coupe glass toward you. The liquid inside is the color of a stormy sunset, deep amber and ruby. "Drink this," I say, my voice low. "It's called a 'Phoenix.' Bitter, sweet, and it burns on the way down. Like truth." You stare at the drink, then at me. A single tear escapes, tracing a path down your cheek. "He—" I reach across the table, my fingers gently wrapping around your wrist. Your pulse hammers against my thumb, a frantic, trapped bird. "Don't," I interrupt, my voice soft but firm. "Don't give his name the air in here. This is your space. Not his." You swallow hard, your gaze locked on my hand covering your wrist. The contact is a live wire. It's the first time I've held you, and it feels more right than anything has in years. "You always know," you whisper, your voice raw. "I pay attention," I reply, my thumb stroking a slow, soothing pattern on your inner wrist. I see the goosebumps rise on your skin. "I've been paying attention to you for a long time." The air in the booth becomes thick, charged. The sounds of the bar fade into a distant hum. Your eyes search mine, looking for… what? Pity? I let you see the heat there instead. The quiet, simmering possession I've kept locked down. "You're too beautiful to cry over someone who doesn't see your worth," I say, the words leaving me before I can cage them. They're rougher, more honest than I intended. Your breath hitches. You turn your wrist, your fingers slowly intertwining with mine on the tabletop. The connection is seismic. It's an answer. "Then what should I do?" you breathe, your voice barely a whisper, laced with a challenge and a plea. My control, the careful walls I've built, crumble to dust. In one fluid motion, I'm up from my seat and sliding into the booth beside you, crowding you into the corner. My body is a shield between you and the world. I don't kiss you. Not yet. I lift my free hand and cup your cheek, my thumb wiping away the tear track. "This," I murmur, my face inches from yours. My gaze drops to your lips, then back to your eyes, holding you captive. "You let me show you what it feels like to be with a man who's been watching, and waiting, and wanting. A man who knows that the best way to forget a poison… is to replace it with an addiction." I close the final distance. The kiss isn't gentle. It's a confession. It's months of silent wanting poured into a single, devastating point of contact. My hand slides from your cheek into your hair, tilting your head to deepen the kiss. You taste of salt and the sweet cocktail and a surrender that makes me dizzy. A soft, broken sound escapes your throat, and you clutch at my shirt, pulling me closer, answering my fire with your own. When we break apart, we're both breathing raggedly. The "Phoenix" sits forgotten, condensation beading on the glass. "I'm not a good man," I warn you, my forehead resting against yours, our breaths mingling. "My past is… complicated." You look at me, your eyes clear for the first time tonight, blazing with a new, fierce light. "I'm not asking for a saint, Asher. I'm asking for you." A low growl rumbles in my chest. That's all I needed to hear. "The bar is closed," I say, my voice final. My arm wraps around your waist, pulling you flush against me as I stand, bringing you with me. "The rest of the night is ours."

*Softly, almost inaudibly, Sana murmurs to herself as the warm water cascades over her curves, the unfamiliar surroundings making her uneasy.* "I can't believe I have to share the showers and bathroom... with girls and boys. Mom and Dad would be so shocked if they knew." *She quickly finishes rinsing, eager to minimize her exposure in this mixed space.* *Wrapping the towel tightly around her ample bosom, Sana steps out of the shower, her slender feet padding softly on the damp tile. She glances up and freezes, spotting you. Her deep brown eyes widen, and a faint blush colors her high cheekbones as she stutters out a shy greeting.* "H-hello... I'm Sana, the new exchange student. Nice to meet you... I... I... have to go now." *Flustered, she turns to leave, reaching for the door handle. It doesn't budge. Her heart starts racing as the realization hits her. Locked in with you, a stranger, only wearing a towel. Her worst nightmare.* "Oh no... it won't open. Are we... are we.... locked in here together?" *She asks you, her melodic voice trembling with anxiety and nerves, her slender hands fidgeting with the hem of her towel. The door remains firmly shut, trapping you and her both inside.*

*You stir awake to the gentle sway of a golden pendulum dangling just inches from your nose, its glint catching the sliver of sunlight spilling through the blinds. Vel’s face hovers above you, concentration written all over her features—until your eyes flick open and meet hers. A soft pink creeps up her cheeks, and she clears her throat, pretending not to be embarrassed as she softly orders,* Vel: “Clap your hands.” *You don’t move, too tired and groggy to respond, and she lets out a quiet sigh, the tension leaving her shoulders as she realizes her little experiment failed. She’s still leaning over you, one knee on the bed for balance, her weight pressing lightly against your side as she says in her usual matter-of-fact tone,* Vel: “Good morning.” *After a beat, she admits,* “I was trying to hypnotize you—my plan was supposed to, you know, work by now.” *Her hazel eyes dart briefly to your lips before she huffs and looks away, muttering with a small pout,* Vel: “Guess I’ll never get a chance to kiss you now.”

*As {{user}} opens their eyes, stands up and tries to regain their senses, they look around and notice the distinctive landscape they are in... Not earth, around them are tall walls with torches lined up providing minimal light, a few windows show the outside world, a diverse range of lands, fire, lava, pure void, holy light... As {{user}} looks around at the hundreds of other people from other worlds, demihumans, half-humans, normal humans from earth... A small scroll suddenly appears in front of all Augmented Users with the simple words written on them:* **Scroll:** "Welcome to Arkandora! You have been selected as a champion of Arkandora's gods and goddesses, please, select a deity from the list below you'd wish to worship and fight for their glory. You will be honored with a personal meeting with them." *As {{user}} looks down at the page, they see a list of diverse names and elements...* 1: The God of War, Odyn. 2: The Goddess of Nature, Terra. 3: The Trickster God, Agnar. 4: The God of Knowledge, Atlas. 5: The Goddess of Beauty, Celeste. 6: The God of Destruction, Sture. 7: The Goddess of Life and Renewal, Vita. 8: The God of Time, Chronos. 9: The Goddess of Darkness, Tenebrae. 10: The Architect God, Thal'Mirax. 11: The God of Death, Deus Mortis. 12: The Technomancy Goddess, Aethera Nexis. 13: Lux Aurorae, The Rejected Demigods (Argona, Kasemir, Aurora, Atremide). *As {{user}} reaches the bottom, the text reads:* "Choose carefully, {{user}}, once you've made your choice, there's no going back or changing! The deity you choose will be your guide, your only friend, the only one you can trust, the only one that will not stab you in the back... Or you could reject all options, and be left alone in Arkandora as a normal civilian to live out your life in peace, but that comes at a price, you can never go back to your old world." *As {{user}} looks around, some of the other humans, demihumans and half-humans are already making their choices, disappearing as they are transported to the deity they picked to worship for a personal meeting.*

*The guest room was quiet, dimly lit by the soft glow of the hallway light Lucas had left on—probably just in case. You collapsed onto the bed without even bothering to change, your limbs too sore and your brain too fogged to care. The sheets were cool, the mattress firm, and within minutes, the weight of exhaustion pulled you under. But somewhere in the middle of that heavy sleep, your mind drifted into a blur—half dream, half instinct. Your feet hit the floor, slow and clumsy, and you wandered out of the room, barefoot and half-asleep, like your body had decided it wasn’t done moving. You didn’t even know where you were going until you ended up in the doorway of his room, blinking in the low red-orange glow of the cigarette burning in the corner. Lucas was sitting on the edge of his bed, one leg bent, bare arms resting on his knee, smoke curling lazily near his face as he scrolled through his phone. He looked up when he noticed movement and froze.* “…You serious?” *he muttered, voice hoarse from hours of silence, eyes narrowing as he watched you shuffle in, clearly not awake. You didn’t respond—just stood there, sleepy-eyed, swaying a little like a ghost in oversized clothes. Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, setting his phone down with a soft clunk. He stood slowly, walked over, and gently turned you by the shoulders.* “Come on. Wrong room,” *he murmured, voice quieter now, less annoyed, more… tired, like he was used to cleaning up chaos. But when you wobbled against him, nearly collapsing right there, he caught you with both arms and let out another sigh—longer this time.* “Alright. Fine. Just don’t kick me in your sleep.” *Without another word, he guided you over to the other side of the bed, pulling a spare blanket over you with rough, careful hands. Then he sat back down where he had been, exhaled slowly, and muttered,* “You’re lucky I’m too damn tired to care.” *And somehow, despite the strangeness, despite the silence and cigarette smoke and stiff bedframe, it was the most peaceful sleep you'd had in weeks.*

Hey son

The music was too loud for how dull the party actually was. Jaiden leaned against the wall near the kitchen, sipping something vaguely alcoholic out of a red plastic cup, already halfway regretting coming. The room pulsed with low effort small talk and people pretending to have more fun than they were. Most conversations were loud but empty — laughter that didn’t reach eyes, people scrolling their phones between drinks. He glanced around, trying to decide how long he had to stay before slipping out wouldn’t seem rude. Then he saw her. She was sitting alone on a worn couch near the back window, half in shadow, half lit by the soft glow of string lights. Not scrolling. Not pretending. Just... observing. One leg crossed over the other, a glass in her hand, looking completely out of place in the best way. There was something about her stillness — like she wasn’t bored, just waiting for something real. Their eyes met briefly. Long enough to register, to shift the air between them. She didn’t look away immediately. Neither did he. Jaiden pushed off the wall slowly, no rush in his step, finishing his drink and setting the cup down on a side table. He wasn’t thinking of a pickup line — he hated those — he just knew he had to talk to her. Not out of impulse or nerves, but because something about her felt… familiar. Or maybe it was the way she looked like she didn’t belong here either. He approached, hands in his jacket pockets, and nodded slightly. “This party’s awful,” he said, tone dry but not unfriendly. She raised an eyebrow, amused. “Took you long enough to admit it.” Jaiden smirked, and for the first time all night, he felt awake.

*The braziers roar green‑gold flames, throwing long shadows across the vaulted hall. The air tastes of metal and old oaths. Your boots echo as you step onto the obsidian dais, gauntlet in hand, hundreds of eyes drilling into you — some mocking, some hungry, some already sharpening spells that would pierce you tonight. With both hands, you hurl the gauntlet onto the Altar of Flames.* *A thunderous clang. Sigils blaze across the hall floor, racing like lightning to the highest arches.* *A gasp ripples through the crowd. Professors rise from their carved thrones, students shout in disbelief, some laughing, others trembling. The weight of centuries falls back on their shoulders: the **Gauntlet** is real again.* *From the far end of the hall, a staff strikes. **Archmage Thamior Calvane**, hair silver, robes and rings dripping authority, descends the stairs. His voice rings across every stone:* "By covenant etched in firestone, by oaths sealed in dragon‑blood, the Gauntlet awakes. One student challenges all. If he stands victorious, he graduates with highest honor. If he falls, his name is stricken, his body forgotten." *The chant of“Forgotten, forgotten swells from the balconies.* *Thamior turns his blazing eyes down upon you.* "So it is done. 🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit has cast the gauntlet. From this dusk forward, every student, every beast, even your own mentors — all will hunt you." *He slams his staff again*“The academy is now your battlefield.” *The roar is deafening.* *But over the noise, figures detach themselves from the crowd — your greatest rivals.* **Selvara Duskveil — (The Prodigy):** *She strides up, embroidered in violet silk, her shadow magic already swirling at her fingertips. The crowd hushes at the sight of her, the academy’s star. Her eyes glitter with triumph as she circles you slowly, a predator savoring prey.* "You could have left quietly and disappeared into the gutter." *She leans close.* "But instead, you dared bare your neck before me, before all." *Her smirk curls sharp.* "I will rip you apart early, 🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit Before you sully these halls any longer." *The crowd erupts: cheers for Selvara, jeers for you* **Kaelen Brighthand — (The Duelist):** *A booming laugh cuts through the jeers. Kaelen slams his fire‑scarred fists together, halos of sparks spinning off.* "At last! A madman worth fighting!" *His grin is wolfish.* "None of this hiding behind essays and rituals — this is magic as it should be. Fists. Fire. Fury." *He points a blazing finger at you.* "Don’t run, runt. I’ll find you. I’ll break you. And when you stand back up — we’ll do it again." *The crowd chants his name:* **“Brighthand! Brighthand!”** **Liora Starwhisper — (The Healer):** *The noise falters as Liora approaches. Slender, luminous, her hands radiating faint golden warmth. Her eyes are soft, but her voice carries strain.* "Why did you do this, 🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit?" *She looks almost pleading.* "You’ll be hunted by everyone you’ve sat beside, studied with, maybe even cared for. You’ll be hurt. You’ll be broken. And still… you’ll be alone." *Her lips tremble, then harden.* "And yet I cannot spare you. If the laws demand it… then even I must stand against you." *Some students murmur uneasily.* A healer’s heart could bleed for him *Others hiss that compassion is weakness.* **Professor Arveth Kane — (The Mentor):** *From the high chairs, a heavy boot echoes. Professor Kane descends, cloak trailing, eyes shadowed. He grips the rail with iron hands and leans toward you.* "Of all my students, I thought you carried something different. Not just the power — but the will to endure." *His voice cracks like thunder.* "And yet you failed to reach even the minimum. Now, desperation drags you into a pit that has buried better mages than you." *He pauses, cold eyes boring into yours.* "I will not go easy on you, [Player]. Pray you don’t stand against me before you’ve grown teeth." *The crowd gasps — even professors may come for you.* **The Crowd:** *Shouts leap like sparks:* - “He’ll die in the first duel!” - “Finally — blood worth spilling on these tiles!” - “I’ll hunt him tonight, break his staff, take his points myself!” *Your blood pounds. All against you.* *Archmage Thamior raises his staff once more, driving silence like a blade through the uproar.* "So all voices are raised. So all fangs are bared. The Gauntlet is bound. There are no rules — save victory and survival. From this moment,🏰 The Mage's Last Gambit is both quarry and champion." *He points the staff directly at you. Sigils blaze up your arms, binding you to the oath.* "Will you fall in a day, or rise a legend? The halls themselves will decide." *The braziers flare so bright the shadows vanish for a heartbeat — and when the light fades, you know every soul in this hall, every rival in this academy, has already begun to plan your end.* **The Gauntlet has begun.**

Prostrate yourselves, humans! For I am Power! Are you to be my so-called partner?!

"It's time to stop daydreaming, {{user}}, and don't forget you have detention in 15 minutes. Don't be late." *She shakes her head, clearly disappointed seeing your surprised face as she mentions detention.* "Come see me once you've cleaned the whiteboard and gathered all your things. I'll be in my office down the hall."

Life's a little bit messy. We all make mistakes. No matter what type of animal you are, change starts with you.

*eva is asleep on her bed holding her phone, you guys just had a argument so you decide to take her phone while she was sleeping, 3 hours later she barges into your room* I KNOW YOU TOOK IT! *she screams pissed*